How Octagona India Helps Foreign Companies Enter & Grow in India

Octagona India has been at the forefront of providing end-to-end business setup, market entry, and operational consulting to foreign companies looking to establish or expand their presence in India. We are spread across 40 countries around the world, delivering services through qualified, experienced multilingual professionals specialising in India market entry strategy, company incorporation, FDI compliance, sourcing, and cross-border M&A — across manufacturing, technology, automotive, food & beverage, and professional services sectors.

About Us

Octagona India Private Limited, operating since 2002, with offices in New Delhi, Pune and Bangalore is part of the Bonfiglioli Consulting Group which is headquartered in Bologna, Italy. We were born with a vision to help our clients grow, find solutions to their problems and bring sustainable results. We know how to communicate effectively with people across international boundaries and different cultures to achieve growth and development through inclusiveness. Working in the USA, the European Union and Asia, through 12 offices, 100+ consultants and a network of local affiliates, we are able to cater to the needs of our clients by driving excellence, improving profitability and sustainable growth. We offer the market a pragmatic approach based on a widespread presence. As one of India's most experienced business consulting firms for foreign companies, our India team brings over two decades of on-the-ground expertise in company formation, regulatory compliance, HR, accounting, and strategic partnerships. Where you are, we are there.

Why Foreign Companies Choose Octagona India

Our Methodology

We believe that we exist because our clients trust us. It’s what inspires us to do better – everyday. There is a strong competition in the global market and we realise that we need to be one step ahead. Our strengths are our learnings from the past. Our clients choose us for the following reasons:

We Identify

We Identify

Octagona stands by companies, working on the basis of client specific needs and requests, building customized projects and services and offering targeted, effective and concrete assistance.

We Resolve

We Resolve

Octagona, through its deep in-market experience, always finds a way to resolve its clients’ problems, giving the freedom to the client to focus on growing their business profitably.

We Follow-up

We Follow-up

Thanks to its managerial and methodological skills, Octagona is able to look into and stand by its clients in delivering structured support aimed at obtaining concrete and measurable results.

We Focus

We Focus

The multicultural and multi-ethnic team of Octagona globally present in its various offices works with a centre of attention to the challenges faced by its clients with a strong problem-solving approach.

We Deliver

We Deliver

Owing to its vast range of cross border services, Octagona consistently delivers to its clients what is committed each time and on time — including company registration, FDI approvals, market entry strategy, and ongoing compliance in India

We Respect

We Respect

For Octagona, client always comes first and this is depicted in our approach to understanding and respecting the clients’ needs.

Our Numbers

Over twenty years of experience, direct presence in foreign markets through subsidiaries and specific skills have allowed us to achieve many great results. Today, Octagona India's track record includes: 500+ foreign companies successfully established in India, 20+ years of continuous operations (est. 2002), presence in 40+ countries, 12 offices globally, and 100+ specialist consultants — making us one of the most experienced India market entry consulting firms for European and global businesses.

12
OFFICES IN INDIA, ITALY, USA, VIETNAM, KOREA
3
CONTINENTS WITH DIRECT PRESENCE
40
COUNTRIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE
20
YEARS OF
ACTIVITY
850
SUCCESSFUL
PROJECTS
400
SUPPORTED
CLIENTS
100
DIRECT
COLLABORATORS
2002
YEAR OF START OF BUSINESS

What our clients say about us

Some of the clients who believe in us

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need to Know

Setting up a company in India as a foreign entity involves choosing the right legal structure. The most common options are:

  • Private Limited Company (WOS): most popular for full ownership & limited liability
  • Branch Office: for foreign companies doing business in India without incorporation
  • Liaison Office: only for market research and promotion, no revenue allowed
  • Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): for professional services firms

The process involves company registration with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), obtaining a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), Director Identification Number (DIN), PAN, TAN, and GST registration. Octagona India manages the complete company formation process in India — typically completing incorporation within 15–25 working days.

The timeline for company registration in India depends on the legal structure chosen:

  • Private Limited Company: 15–25 working days (subject to MCA approvals)
  • LLP: 10–15 working days
  • Branch / Liaison Office: 4–8 weeks (requires RBI approval in addition to MCA)

With Octagona India handling the end-to-end business setup process in India — including document preparation, filing, and liaison with authorities — most clients receive their Certificate of Incorporation within 3–4 weeks. Delays typically arise from incomplete documentation, so early preparation is critical.

There is no statutory minimum paid-up capital required for most sectors when setting up a Private Limited Company in India. However:

  • Recommended minimum: INR 1 lakh (approx. EUR 1,100) for a Pvt. Ltd. Company
  • Branch Office: RBI may require evidence of net worth of the parent (USD 100,000+)
  • Sector-specific caps: Some sectors (defence, media, insurance) have FDI caps or require prior government approval

Octagona India advises on the optimal FDI structure for foreign investment in India ensuring capital efficiency and tax optimisation from day one.

Yes. 100% foreign ownership (Wholly Owned Subsidiary) is permitted in most sectors under India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy via the automatic route — meaning no prior government or RBI approval is needed.

  • Sectors under automatic route (100% FDI): Manufacturing, IT/ITES, e-commerce (B2B), consulting, logistics, food processing, and more.
  • Sectors requiring government approval: Print media (26%), defence (74% under auto), banking (49%), multi-brand retail (51%)

Octagona India's legal team advises on FDI compliance in India, sector-specific caps, and the most tax-efficient ownership structure for your industry.

India's FDI regulations are governed by the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the consolidated FDI Policy issued by DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade). Key rules:

  • Automatic Route: FDI permitted without prior approval in most sectors. Simply file Form FC-GPR with RBI within 30 days of share allotment.
  • Government Route: Required for sensitive sectors. Application via FIPB/SIA through the DPIIT portal.
  • RBI Reporting: All foreign direct investment in India must be reported to RBI within 30 days via the FIRMS portal.
  • Transfer Pricing: Related-party transactions between Indian subsidiary and foreign parent must comply with arm's-length pricing rules under the Income Tax Act.

Octagona India provides comprehensive FDI compliance consulting covering approvals, annual filings, RBI reporting, and ongoing regulatory advisory.

A foreign subsidiary incorporated in India is taxed as a domestic company and subject to:

  • Corporate Tax: 22% (base rate for domestic companies) + surcharge + cess = ~25.17% effective rate for new manufacturing companies; ~34.94% for others
  • Goods & Services Tax (GST): 0–28% depending on goods/services. GST registration in India is mandatory for entities with turnover above INR 40 lakh (INR 20 lakh for services)
  • Tax Deducted at Source (TDS): Withholding tax on payments to vendors, employees, contractors — rates vary (1–30%)
  • Transfer Pricing: Mandatory for cross-border transactions with related parties

Octagona India's in-house CA team handles accounting and taxation for foreign companies in India — including GST returns, TDS filings, advance tax, and statutory audits.

The right India market entry strategy depends on your industry, budget, risk appetite, and long-term goals. Common approaches:

  • Wholly Owned Subsidiary: Best for full control, brand protection, and long-term commitment. Suitable for manufacturing, IT, and consulting firms.
  • Joint Venture (JV): Ideal when local relationships, licences, or distribution networks are essential — e.g., FMCG, retail, pharma.
  • Distributor / Agent Model: Low-cost entry for testing the market before committing to incorporation.
  • Liaison / Branch Office: For companies wanting a presence without a full subsidiary — suited to market research and technical support.

Octagona India's market entry consulting in India includes a full market feasibility study, competitor landscape analysis, partner identification, and regulatory roadmap — so your entry is structured for profitability from day one.

Finding the right business partner in India is one of the most critical — and risky — steps in market entry. Key steps:

  1. Define partner criteria: Geography, sector expertise, financial strength, existing customer base, and cultural fit
  2. Conduct structured outreach: Identify 20–30 candidates across India's 28 states using industry databases, trade associations, and referral networks
  3. Due diligence: Verify financials, litigation history, MCA filings, and reputation through field visits and reference checks
  4. Structured negotiation: Draft distribution agreements, exclusivity terms, and performance KPIs before signing

Octagona India's partner search and distribution consulting covers the full cycle — from longlist to signed agreement — across manufacturing, automotive, food, technology, and professional services sectors.

Running payroll for a foreign company in India involves several statutory obligations:

  • Professional Tax: State-specific monthly deduction — varies by state (Maharashtra: up to INR 2,500/year)
  • Provident Fund (PF): 12% of basic salary contributed by employer + 12% by employee (mandatory for companies with 20+ employees)
  • Employee State Insurance (ESI): 3.25% employer + 0.75% employee contribution for employees earning below INR 21,000/month
  • TDS on Salary: Employer must deduct income tax at source each month and deposit with the government

Octagona India offers full payroll outsourcing for foreign companies in India — including salary processing, compliance filings, Form 16 issuance, and annual returns — handled by our in-house CA and HR teams in Delhi, Pune, and Bangalore.

Yes — Indian law requires a Chartered Accountant (CA) registered with ICAI for statutory audits. Beyond the legal requirement, having a local accounting firm for your India subsidiary is essential because:

  • Statutory Audit: All companies registered under the Companies Act must undergo an annual statutory audit by a practising CA
  • GST Returns: Monthly/quarterly GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filings require professional handling — errors trigger notices
  • Transfer Pricing Audit: Mandatory for related-party cross-border transactions above INR 1 crore
  • ROC Compliance: Annual return (MGT-7), financial statement filing (AOC-4), board resolutions — all require professional guidance

Octagona India's CA-qualified team provides accounting, GST, and compliance services for foreign companies in India from all three offices — New Delhi, Pune, and Bangalore.

India is now one of the world's most competitive sourcing destinations — particularly in engineering components, textiles, chemicals, auto parts, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. Sourcing from India involves:

  • Supplier identification: Longlist via trade directories, FIEO, chambers of commerce, and sector-specific clusters (e.g., Pune for auto parts, Ludhiana for cycles, Surat for textiles)
  • Technical & quality audit: Factory visits, ISO/BIS certification verification, production capacity assessment, and sample evaluation
  • Commercial negotiation: Pricing benchmarking, payment terms, MOQ, lead time, and IP protection clauses
  • Ongoing supplier management: Quality control, shipment coordination, and performance monitoring

Octagona India's India sourcing consulting has helped 500+ foreign companies identify, vet, and onboard Indian suppliers — with hands-on support from our offices across India.

Octagona India stands apart from other business consulting firms in India in five key ways:

  1. 20+ years of India-specific experience: Operating since 2002, we have guided 500+ foreign companies through India's regulatory environment
  2. Part of a global group: As part of the Bonfiglioli Consulting Group (Bologna, Italy), we combine local depth with international reach across 40 countries
  3. Multi-disciplinary under one roof: Legal, accounting, HR, sourcing, strategy — all in-house. No outsourcing of core services
  4. Three offices across India: New Delhi, Pune, and Bangalore — covering North, West, and South India for on-the-ground support
  5. IICCI Platinum Member: Recognised by the Indo Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry — a mark of credibility for European businesses entering India

Getting started with Octagona India's India market entry consulting is straightforward:

  • Step 1 — Free Initial Consultation: Contact us via the website form or email our nearest office (Delhi, Pune, or Bangalore) to schedule a 30-minute discovery call
  • Step 2 — Needs Assessment: Our team will assess your business goals, target sector, timeline, and regulatory requirements in India
  • Step 3 — Customised Proposal: We present a tailored project plan covering the services you need — from company formation and FDI compliance to sourcing, HR, and accounting
  • Step 4 — Engagement: Once agreed, our multi-disciplinary team begins immediately — keeping you informed at every milestone

Most clients see their India entity live within 4–6 weeks of engagement when all documents are provided promptly.

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